Berlin, Germany HISTORIC TRAIL -...

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL

Berlin, Germany

HISTORIC TRAIL

TRANSATLANTIC COUNCIL

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL2

How to Use This Guide

This Field Guide contains information on the Berlin Historical Trail

designed by a members of the former Troop 152 of Berlin. The

guide is intended to be a starting point in your endeavor to learn

about the history of the sites on the trail. Remember, this may be

the only time your Scouts visit Berlin in their life so make it a great

time!

While TAC tries to update these Field Guides when possible, it may

be several years before the next revision. If you have comments or

suggestions, please send them to [email protected] or post them

on the TAC Nation Facebook Group Page at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/27951084309/.

This guide can be printed as a 5½ x 4¼ inch pamphlet or read on a

tablet or smart phone.

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/27951084309/

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 3

Table of Contents

Getting Prepared………………..…………4

What is the Historic Trail…….………5

Outer Berlin Historic Trail ..…. 6-10

Inner Berlin Historic Trail ..….11-25

Route Maps……………………………..26-32

Quick Quiz……………………….……………33

B.S.A. Requirements………….…..…… 34

Notes……………………………..….………… 35

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL4

Getting Prepared

Just like with any hike (or any activity in Scouting), the Historic Trail

program starts with Being Prepared.

1. Review this Field Guide in detail.

2. Check local conditions and weather.

3. Study and Practice with the map and compass.

4. Pack rain gear and other weather-appropriate gear.

5. Take plenty of water.

6. Make sure socks and hiking shoes or boots fit correctly and are broken in.

7. Pack a first aid kit, "just in case."

8. Discuss the day's activities, so there are no surprises; discuss safe hiking.

9. Ensure Two-Deep Leadership at all times.

10. Check the Quick Quiz and keep it with you on the trail.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 5

What is the Historic Trail?

Much has happened in Berlin since the original Berlin Historic Trail,

which was established by Troop 152 of Berlin. The Wall came down

after 28 years, in November 1989, there are no more military

installations since 1994, and you no longer need Flag Orders to

drive through the “corridor” (Berlin-Helmstedt Autobahn, which

entered East German territory at the town of Helmstedt (Checkpoint

Alpha) and connected to Berlin at Dreilinden (Checkpoint Bravo) in

south-western Berlin (where you can still see a few remains of the

checkpoints) or take the Duty Train from Frankfurt.

Therefore, it was necessary to update and make a few changes to

the existing Berlin Historic Trail! We have decided to divide the

hike into two sections. Berlin has a lot to offer so make sure that

you stop and “smell the roses” along the way. There are many

museums and memorials along the way, each one has something

special to offer. If we would include them all in this guide, it would

be 50 pages at least, so we have just mentioned a few. Both hikes

have many eating possibilities along the way. For the most part you

won’t go more than a kilometer or two without passing a restaurant,

cafe or beer garden.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL6

Outer Berlin Historic Trail

Outer Berlin Historic Trail – Wansee

Where and How to StartThe first hike originally started in Wansee at the Boy Scout wall. If you are driving, you

can park on Potsdammer Chaussee and walk up Stahnsdorfer Damm. If you are using

public transportation, take the S1 to Wanssee. When exiting the train station, go left

down Kronprinzessinenweg, cross left onto Potsdamer Chaussee and take a right on

Stahnsdorfer Damm. It is now a 2 mile hike through the woods (you will be walking

past the old Rose Range shooting range and a small restaurant on your right). Take

the 2nd trail to the left and keep walking until you come to a forking of the path. To your

left, you will come to where the original Berlin Historic Trail started from! Now return to

the corner of Potsdammer Chaussee and Kronprinzessinenweg to begin the rest of the

hike. At the end of the hike you can take the 316 bus back to where the hike started.

Distance and TimeThis hike measures about 10 km in distance. Experienced adult hikers completed the

route in about two hours, stopping at each location to view the site. Younger and less-

experienced hikers, and those who wish to take more time, will take longer, perhaps a

half-day or more. Take the time to learn and enjoy the hike. The goal is the trail, not

the finish.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 7


START – WanseeAfter doing the 2 mile segment on the previous page, the trail begins where Potsdamer

Chaussee turns into Konigstraße at the intersection of Kronprinzessinnenweg..

52°25'12.5"N 13°10'30.9"E – Kronprinzessinnenweg 260, 14109 Berlin

Head west on Königstraße, go over the Wannsee Bridge and then take a right going

down Am Grossen Wannsee to house number 56-58.

Checkpoint #2 – Wansee Conference HouseYou have reached the house where the infamous Wannsee Conference was held. The

Wannsee Conference was a meeting, lasting only about ninety minutes, of senior

officials of the German Nazi regime, held in Berlin-Wannsee on 20 January 1942. The

purpose of the conference was to inform administrative leaders of Departments

responsible for various policies relating to Jews, that Reinhardt Heydrich had been

appointed as the chief executor of the "Final solution of the Jewish question". In the

course of the meeting, Heydrich presented a plan, presumably approved by Adolf

Hitler, for the deportation of the Jewish population of Europe and French North Africa

(Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia) to German-occupied areas in eastern Europe, and the

use of the Jews fit for labor on road-building projects, in the course of which they would

eventually die, the surviving remnant to be annihilated after completion of the projects.

Instead, as Soviet forces gradually pushed back the German lines, most of the Jews of

German-occupied Europe were sent to extermination or concentration camps, or killed

where they lived. As a result of the efforts of historian Joseph Wulf, the Wannsee

House, where the conference was held, is now a Holocaust Memorial. This museum is

open daily 10:00-18:00 and the admission is free.

52°25'56.6"N 13°09'52.8"E – Am Großen Wannsee 56-58, 14109 Berlin

From here continue down Am Grossen Wansee till the street turns left. Here, take the

walkway to the right and walk to the Grosse Löwe (Big Lion).

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL8


Checkpoint #3 – Pfauninsel (Peacock Island)Follow the path down the hill and around the corner. Continue to follow this path along

the water until you get to the Pfauninsel (Peacock Island). This park and small castle

were built for Friedrich Wilhelm II and his mistress Wilhelmine Encke in 1795. If you

would like to visit the island you can take the small ferry across the water. The walk

around the island is about 4.4 KM (2.7 miles). There is a small charge for taking the

ferry to the island.

52°25'41.5"N 13°07'27.0"E – Pfaueninselchaussee 100, 14109 Berlin

Continue up the hill from here, staying close to the water. Up the hill is the St. Peter

und Paul auf Nikolskoe.

Checkpoint #4 – St. Peter und Paul auf NikolskoeThis church was built between 1834 and 1837 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III for the

residents of Peacock Island. There is a nice restaurant beside it on top of the hill.

52°25'31.7"N 13°07'02.6"E – Nikolskoer Weg 17, 14109 Berlin

Continuing along the water, you will soon be able to see the Sacrower Heilandskirche

on the other side of the river.

Checkpoint #5 – Sacrower HeilandskircheThis little church was built by Friedrich Wilhelm IV. When the wall went up in Berlin the

church was in the way and was badly damaged.

52°25'25.4"N 13°06'00.5"E – Fährstraße, 14469 Potsdam

Continuing along the water, you have almost made it to the end. You are now

approaching Schloss Glienicke.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 9


Checkpoint #6 – Schloss GlienickeThe palace was built in 1825 for Prince Karl of Prussia. The building, originally merely

a cottage, was turned into a summer palace in the late Neoclassical style. Particularly

striking are two golden lion statues in front of the frontage. It is now part of a UNESCO

World Heritage Site.

52°24'53.4"N 13°05'37.1"E – Königstraße 36, 14109 Berlin

Look west from the Schloss and you will see the final checkpoint, the Glienicker

Bridge.

End Checkpoint #7 – Glienicker BridgeThe Glienicker Bridge was used three times to exchange captured spies during the

Cold War by the Soviet Union and the United States. The first prisoner exchange

between the superpowers took place on February 10, 1962. The United States

released the noted Russian spy Colonel Rudolf Ivanovich Abel in exchange for pilot

Francis Gary Powers, who was captured by the USSR following the U-2 Crises of

1960. The second exchange on June 12, 1985 was a hurriedly arranged swap of 23

American agents held in Eastern Europe for four Soviet agents arrested in the West.

The final exchange was also the most public. On February 11, 1986 the human rights

campaigner and political prisoner Anatoly Sharanansky and three other Western

agents were exchanged for Karl Koecher and four other Eastern agents.

52°24'48.5"N 13°05'28.4"E – Glienicker Brücke, Königstraße, 14467 Berlin

You can now take Bus 316 back to the start of Hike # 1 or you can continue to the

Cecilenhof if you have not had enough history!

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL10


Optional Checkpoint #8 – CecilenhofTake a right on Schwanenallee and straight ahead to Cecilienhof, which was the home of Crown

Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, where the Potsdam Conference (lasting from 17 July—2 August 1945)

was held by leaders of the "Big Three" – the United States, the Soviet Union, and Great Britain to

confer about and clarify how war-torn Europe would be handled. The goals also included

establishment of post-war order, peace treaty issues, and countering the effects of war. The Allies

agreed to and adopted the Berlin Conference (formal title of the Potsdam Agreement) which

established the legal framework for the occupation of Germany in the wake of World War II.

According to the agreement, Germany would be formally under the ruling of the four major wartime

Allies — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union — until a German

government acceptable to them all could be reconstituted. Germany, taken in its borders of 1937,

would be reduced by most of what used to be considered Eastern Germany and the remaining

territory would be divided into four zones, each administered by one of the allies. Berlin, though

surrounded by the Soviet zone of occupation – established in most of Middle Germany -, would be

similarly divided, with the western allies occupying an enclave consisting of the western parts of the

city. According to the agreement, the occupation of Berlin would end only as a result of a

quadripartite agreement. The Western allies were guaranteed three air corridors to their sectors of

Berlin, and the Soviets also informally allowed road and rail access between West Berlin and the

western parts of Germany. At first, this arrangement was officially a temporary administrative

expedient, and all parties declared that Germany and Berlin would soon be reunited. However, as the

relations between the western allies and the Soviet Union soured and the Cold War began, the joint

administration of Germany and Berlin broke down. Soon Soviet-occupied Berlin and western-

occupied Berlin had entirely separate city administrations. In 1948, the Soviets tried to force the issue

and expel the western allies from Berlin by imposing a land blockade on the western sectors (known

as the Berlin Blockade). The west responded by using its guaranteed air corridors to resupply their

part of the city in what became known as the Berlin Airlift. In May 1949, the Soviets lifted their

blockade, and the future of West Berlin as a separate jurisdiction was ensured. By the end of that

year, two new states had been created out of occupied Germany — the Federal Republic of

Germany (West Germany) in the West and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the East —

with West Berlin an enclave surrounded by, but not part of, the latter.

52°25'09.3"N 13°04'16.4"E – Im Neuen Garten 11, 14469 Potsdam

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 11

Inner Berlin Historic Trail

Inner Berlin Historic Trail – Downtown Berlin

Where and How to StartThe second hike starts at John F Kennedy Platz by the Rathaus Schöneberg. To get

there, take the S bahn to Schöneberg and take one of the following busses to Rathaus

Schöneberg (M46,187,204).

Distance and TimeThis hike measures about 11 km in distance. Experienced adult hikers completed the

route in about three hours, stopping at each location to view the site. Younger and

less-experienced hikers, and those who wish to take more time, will take longer,

perhaps a half-day or more. Take the time to learn and enjoy the hike. The goal is the

trail, not the finish.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL12


START – Rauthaus SchönebergWith Berlin divided after World War II, the Rote Rathaus (Red City Hall), the traditional

seat of the Berlin government, became off limits to West Berlin. As a “temporary”

measure, the Rathaus Schöneberg became the city hall for West Berlin and is the

location where U.S. President John-F.-Kennedy held his famous speech in June 1963,

proclaiming “Ich bin ein Berliner!” On 25 November 1963, three days after his

assassination, the square was renamed John-F.-Kennedy-Platz. It is also the

permanent home to an exhibition of the life of Willy Brandt (1913-1992), Mayor of West

Berlin (1957-66) and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of West Germany (1969-74.)

The Freheitsglocke (Freedom or Liberty Bell), contained in the clock tower, is a

copy of the famous Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. The bell, inscribed “That this world,

under God, shall have a new birth of freedom”, was commissioned by the National

Committee for a Free Europe and was presented on October 24, 1950 by General

Lucius D. Clay to the people of Berlin as a gift from the people of the United States.

52°29'05.7"N 13°20'40.7"E – John-F.-Kennedy-Platz 1, 10825 Berlin

Continue your hike by walking down Martin-Luther-straße, take the street which forks

to the left (Dominicus straße), and turn left onto Hauptstraße.

Checkpoint #2 – Unseren Gefallen KammeradenRemaining on the left side of the street, you will come to several memorials just past

the pink church, the first being Unseren Gefallen Kammeraden (Our Fallen

Comrades) This statue is a memorial to those killed in World War I (1914-1918) and

World War II (1939-1945).

52°28'58.9"N 13°20'59.6"E – Hauptstraße 45, 10827 Berlin

Continue on Hauptstraße just past Akazienstraße and cross to the small triangular

Platz in the center of the intersection, which is Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 13


Checkpoint #3 – Kaiser Wilhelm PlatzThe sign on this small platz is a reminder of the terrible events of the concentration

camps. The words “Ort des Schreckens, die wir niemals vergessen dürfen”

translate to “Terrible places, which should never be forgotten”.

52°29'11.5"N 13°21'25.4"E – Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1-4, 10827 Berlin

Upon leaving Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz, proceed onto Kolonnenstraße to the second

railroad bridge, which is the Kolonnenbrücke.

Checkpoint #4 – KolonnenbrückeThe railroad tracks under this bridge once led to the Anhalter Bahnhof. Built over a

period of five years (1875-1880), it was one of many large and impressive Bahnhofs

(train stations) built during the late 19th century in the German capital, from which trains

departed to all parts of Europe. All the old stations were badly damaged in World War

II and only the impressive ruined fragment of the original station remains.

52°29'06.2"N 13°22'17.0"E – Kolonnenstraße 30, 10829 Berlin

Continue on Dudenstraße until you come to Platz der Luftbrücke and the Berlin Airlift

Memorial in Berlin-Tempelhof.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL14


Checkpoint #5 – Berlin Airlift MemorialThe monument displays the names of the 39 British and 31 U.S.-American pilots who

lost their lives during this historical effort.

Dedicated on July 10, 1951, it commemorates the 1948-1949 air service that provided

Berlin with fuel, food, clothing, and other necessities of life during the blockade of land

access to Berlin by the Soviet Union. The concrete memorial consists of three prongs

curving up into the sky, symbolizing the three air corridors used by the allied aircraft.

The Berlin Airlift, using C-47’s and later, C-54’s continued June 28, 1948 thru October

9, 1949 with a total of 1383 different planes participating. Toward the end of the airlift,

an Allied aircraft was landing in Berlin on the average of one per minute. It should be

noted that during the night of April 15/16, 1949, a plane landed every 22 seconds.

Similar monuments can be found at the military airfield Wietzenbruch near the former

RAF Celle and at the Frankfurt International Airport near the former Rhein-Main AB.

52°29'02.9"N 13°23'13.2"E – Platz der Luftbrücke 2, 12101 Berlin

Look southeast from the memorial and you will see the next checkpoint, the Templehof

Central Airport.

Checkpoint #6 – Templehof Central AirportThe site of the airport was originally Knights Templar land in medieval Berlin and from

this beginning came the name Tempelhof. Later, the site was used as a parade field by

Prussian forces, and by unified German forces from 1720 to the start of World War I.

In 1909, Frenchman Armand Zipfel made the first flight demonstration in Tempelhof,

followed by Orville Wright later that same year. Tempelhof was first officially

designated as an airport on October 8, 1923. Lufthansa was founded in Tempelhof on

January 6, 1926.The old terminal, originally constructed in 1927, received politicians

and celebrities from around the world during the 1930s. As part of Albert Speer's plan

for the reconstruction of Berlin during the Nazi era, Prof Ernst Sagebiel was ordered to

replace the old terminal with a new terminal building in 1934. (continued on next page)

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 15


Checkpoint #6 – Templehof Central Airport (cont.)(cont.) The airport halls and the neighboring buildings, intended to become the

gateway to Europe, are still known as the largest built entities worldwide, and have

been described by British architect Sir Norman Foster as "the mother of all airports". In

addition to the airlift operations, American engineers constructed a new 6,000-ft

runway at Tempelhof between July and September 1948 and another between

September and October 1948 to accommodate the expanding requirements of the

airlift. As a forerunner of today’s modern airports, the building was designed with many

unique features including giant arc-shaped hangars for aircraft parking and

semicircular hangars, resembling an eagle in flight.

In 1971 one of the pilots during the Berlin Airlift, and the original Candy Bomber, Gail

Halvorsen, returned to Berlin as the commander of Tempelhof airbase. The ending of

the Cold War and German Reunification opened Tempelhof for non-allied air traffic on

October 3, 1990. American air and land forces in Berlin were deactivated in a

ceremony on the Four Ring Parade field at Tempelhof in accordance with the Treaty

on the Final Settlement with respect to Germany. The Western Allies returned a united

city of Berlin to the unified German government. The U.S. Army closed its Berlin Army

Aviation Detachment at TCA in August 1994, ending a 49-year American military

presence in Berlin. Tempelhof finally shut down in 2008, leaving Tegal and Schönefeld

as the commercial airports for Berlin. A new Boeing C17A Globemaster III transport

plane, Serial 96-0006, was christened by U.S. President Bill Clinton as the "Spirit of

Berlin" at Tempelhof on May 14, 1998.

52°28'57.9"N 13°23'19.1"E – Platz der Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin

As you have now completed the West part of Hike #2, you need to take the U6

(direction Alt-Tegel) from Platz der Luftbrücke to Oranienburger Tor (7 stops) in

order to continue with the East part.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL16


START – Oranienberger Tor StationThese places were not easy to visit during the time of the Berlin Wall, a barrier

separating West Berlin from East Berlin and the rest of East Germany, as it required

special permits! There were eight border crossings between East and West Berlin,

allowing visits by West Berliners, West Germans, western foreigners and Allied

personnel into East Berlin, as well as visits of East German citizens into West Berlin,

provided they held the necessary permit. Those crossings were restricted according to

which nationality was allowed to use it (East Germans, West Germans, West Berliners,

other countries). The most famous was Friedrichstraße (Checkpoint Charlie), which

was restricted to Allied personnel and non-German citizens.

52°31'34.2"N 13°23'14.3"E – Friedrichstraße 125, 10117 Berlin

Once exiting the Oranienburger Tor train station, take a right on Oranienburger

straße.

Checkpoint #7 – Jewish SynagogueThe street itself is dominated by the golden dome of the Jewish Synagogue. Down

some of the many side streets there is still ample evidence of what was once a thriving

Jewish community and of its destruction by the Nazi regime. It now hosts changing

exhibitions and one permanent exhibition, "Open ye the gates – The New Synagogue

1866–1995", which recounts the history of the synagogue itself and the associated

history of Jewish life in Berlin. The building also contains an extensive archive of

Jewish history. In the large nave and in the galleries, there were seats for up to 3000

worshippers. A large, golden dome, which could be seen from far away, crowned the

building; the building's façade, with its magnificent ornamented brickwork, is flanked by

two towers which also boast golden domes. On the "Night of Broken Glass" in 1939,

the spirited action of the chief of the local police precinct prevented the infliction of

serious damage on the synagogue. In 1943, the building was severely damaged in air

raids, and in 1958 the main chamber of the synagogue was demolished. (continued on

next page)

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 17


Checkpoint #7 – Jewish Synagogue (cont.)(cont.) The foundation stone of the reconstructed building was laid on 9 November

1988, exactly 50 years after the "Night of Broken Glass", and the New Synagogue was

rededicated in 1995. The actual synagogue chamber was not reconstructed. On the

open space which remains, and which can be viewed as part of a guided tour, eight

marble pillars mark the site of the ark according to the original foundations, conveying

the dimensions of the original synagogue and the extent of the loss.

52°31'29.1"N 13°23'38.7"E – Oranienburger Str. 28-30, 10117 Berlin

Now take a right onto Monbijoustraße and you will be passing by Museum Island.

Checkpoint #8 – Museum IslandMuseums on the island include the Bode Museum, Pergamon Museum, the National

Gallery, Altes und Neues Museum as well as the Lustgarten.

52°31'19.4"N 13°23'38.1"E – Monbijoustraße 3, 10117 Berlin

Make a left on Am Kupfergraben and you will now be able to see our next point on the

trail as seen from the Lustgarten.

Checkpoint #9 – Berliner DomThe Berliner Dom belongs to the most impressive buildings in the historic middle of

Berlin. After its extensive restoration from 1974 to 2002, the grandiose Dom shines

again. The Dom was built after the Petersdom in Rome and because it is so richly

ornamented, it is considered a typical impressive building during the reign of

Wilhelm II. Julius Raschdorff was in charge of the construction of the Berliner Dom

from 1894 to 1905.

52°31'08.0"N 13°24'01.3"E – Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin

Take a left down Karl-Liebknecht-straße towards the Alexanderplatz.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL18


Checkpoint #10 – AlexanderplatzOriginally, this square lay just beyond the gates to the city. Around 1700 it was the site

of a livestock market, earning it the name Ochsenplatz (Oxen Square). Later, it was

also used as a wool market and as a parade ground. It received its current name on

the occasion of the visit of Czar Alexander II in 1805. At the turn of last century, "Alex"

gradually lost its marketplace character, and, with the establishment of a regional train

station there in 1882, it became an important transport intersection and was almost

completely destroyed in the war.

Its present appearance dates from the construction of the East German city center

from 1966–71. This included the former Centrum department store, the Alex

Passages, which connected with it and the 123m-high hotel building. The square is

also home to the World Time Clock, and the Fountain of International Friendship, both

of which were erected in 1969. Following German reunification, the Alexanderplatz has

undergone a gradual process of change with many of the surrounding buildings being

renovated. Despite the construction of a tram line it has retained its socialist character,

including the much-graffitied Fountain of Friendship between Peoples (Brunnen der

Völkerfreundschaft).

The square is dominated by Fernsehturm (TV Tower), was constructed between 1965

and 1969 by the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) administration who

intended it as a symbol of Berlin, which it remains today, as it is easily visible

throughout the central and some suburban districts of Berlin. It is the highest building in

the city, and one of Berlin's biggest attractions. The Fernsehturm is the fourth tallest

freestanding structure in Europe, after Moscow's Ostankino Tower, the Kiev TV Tower

and the Riga Radio and TV Tower. Their restaurant, which rotates once every 30

minutes, is a few meters above the visitors platform (originally it turned once per hour;

the speed was later doubled) and the viewing platform is at a height of 203 meters

providing a unique panoramic view of the entire city which can reach 42 km (26 miles)

on a clear day and should not be missed! (continued on next page)

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 19


Checkpoint #10 – Alexanderplatz (cont.)(cont.) When the sun shines on the Fernsehturm's tiled stainless steel dome, the

reflection usually appears in the form of a cross. This effect was neither predicted nor

desired by the planners. As a jibe against the atheist foundations of the Communist

government, and the ongoing suppression of church institutions in East Germany,

Berliners immediately named the luminous cross Rache des Papstes, or "Pope's

Revenge". This phenomenon was also mentioned by US President Ronald Reagan in

his "Tear Down this Wall” speech on 12 June 1987.

52°31'13.3"N 13°24'30.2"E – Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin

Now continue back down Grunerstraße to reach the next stop.

Checkpoint #11 – Berliner RathausThe Berliner Rathaus (City Hall) – seat of government for the Mayor of Berlin – is

located somewhat towards the back of the square and is known locally as the Rotes

Rathaus (Red Town Hall) not because of any political tendencies but because of its

red brick façade! The architecture of the tower is reminiscent of the bell tower of the

cathedral in the French city of Laon. In 1879, the exterior was decorated with the

"Stony Chronicle", a terracotta frieze on the first floor (36 plates, each 6m in length)

showing scenes from the history of Berlin. The building was seriously damaged in the

Second World War; following its reconstruction from 1951–58, it became the seat of

the East Berlin magistrate, while the city council of the West resided in the town hall in

the district of Schöneberg. After reunification, the reigning mayor moved back to Berlin

Town Hall. In front of the building there is a sculpture by Fritz Kremer (1958), which

symbolizes Berliners rebuilding their city.

52°31'07.2"N 13°24'29.0"E – Rathausstraße 15, 10178 Berlin

Across the street, is our next checkpoint, the Nikolaiviertel.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL20


Checkpoint #12 – NikolaiviertalThis is Berlin as it looked in the Middle Ages – Before the Second World War, the

quarter around the Nikolaikirche was characterized by narrow streets, inns, shops,

courtyards and craftsmen's workshops. Artists including Kleist, Hauptmann, Ibsen,

Casanova, Strindberg and Lessing lived or lodged here. The quarter was almost

completely destroyed during air raids in 1944 and left as a wasteland. The ruins were

only reconstructed from 1981–87, in the run-up to the 750th anniversary of the city,

under the supervision of the architect Günter Stahn. Take a stroll through the narrow

alleyways and don't fail to visit the Nikolaikirche (Church) and the Knoblauchhaus. The

curved frontage of the Ephraim Palace is generally regarded as the most beautiful

corner in the City. Walking back up along the Spreeufer, take a left on Rathausstraße

(extension of Werderscher Markt , then Französische straße) where you will cross one

of Berlin’s oldest Schleusenbrücke.

52°31'00.2"N 13°24'24.5"E – Poststraße 23, 10178 Berlin

Walking back up along the Spreeufer, take a left on Rathausstraße (extension of

Werderscher Markt , then Französische straße) where you will cross one of Berlin’s

oldest Schleusenbrücke (walking bridge).

Checkpoint #13 – St. Hedwig’s CathedralSt. Hedwig’s Cathedral can be found a few blocks past the Bridge, to your right. Built

1747–1773, the Diocesan church of the Archdiocese of Berlin and the most important

Roman Catholic ecclesiastical building in the city. It is built in Prussian classical style

with influences from the English classical style and the followers of Palladio, and is

based on the form of a Corinthian temple. The interior is maintained in the rococo

style, also found in the palaces of Charlottenburg and Sanssouci.

(continued on next page)

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 21


Checkpoint #13 – St. Hedwig’s Cathedral (cont.)(cont.) After a fire in 1843 which almost completely destroyed the opera house, it was

reconstructed under the supervision of Carl Ferdinand Langhans. Various renovations

in the years which followed softened the strong proportions of the building. Completely

destroyed in the war, the building was reconstructed close to Knobeldorff's original

design from 1952 to 1963, and from 1983 to 1986 it was completely restored.

52°31'13.3"N 13°24'30.2"E – Hinter der Katholischen Kirche 3, 10117 Berlin

Now continue back down Grunerstraße to reach the next stop.

Checkpoint #14 – BebelplatzThe famous Bebelplatz is located right behind the cathedral. The square dates to about

1740, but it was named in 1947 after the joint founder of the German Social

Democratic Party (SPD), August Bebel. At first, it was to be the centre of the Forum

Fridericianum planned by Knobelsdorff. This could not however be fully realized – only

the Opera House was constructed from 1741–43, which lead to the grounds becoming

known as Opernplatz. The western end of Bebelplatz is occupied by the Baroque

façade of the Alte Bibliothek (Old Library) constructed in 1775-80, which was dubbed

the "commode" because of its sweeping, concave shape. This was the first

independent library structure in Berlin and was built to house the Royal Book Collection

founded in 1661. King Friedrich II had instructed the master builder Georg Christian

Unger to base his library design on Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach's 1725 plans

for the Michael Wing of the Imperial Palace in Vienna, which had gained renown

through engravings and models. Today, this building belongs to the Humboldt

University and is attached to the Alte Palais (Old Palace, also now used by the

Humboldt University). On the opposite side of Unter den Linden is the Staatsbibliothek

(Prussian State Library), the flagship of all Berlin libraries. The large neo-baroque

complex houses the State and University Libraries. In 1992 the two were combined

and re-named the Berlin National Library – Prussian Cultural Heritage. (continued on

next page)

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL22


Checkpoint #14 – Bebelplatz (cont.)Next to the State Library, the marble statues of the Humboldt brothers Wilhelm and

Alexander adorn the entrance to Humboldt University. Many famous thinkers and

scientists including Albert Einstein, Rudolf Virchow, Fichte, Hegel, and Heinrich Heine

have studied within these walls.

Set in the middle of the square is a memorial to the Nazi 'book-burning' campaign. On

May 10, 1933, the square was the focal point for the "burning of the books" staged by

the Nazis: the works of Heinrich and Thomas Mann, Erich Kästner, Stefan Zweig,

Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx, Alfred Kerr, Kurt Tucholsky and countless other writers

were thrown into the flames. Since 1995, this event has been commemorated by the

monument designed by Micha Ullmann, which consists of an underground library with

empty shelves and which can be seen through a transparent plastic window set into

the ground.

52°30'59.8"N 13°23'37.6"E – Bebelplatz 1, 10117 Berlin

Head south on Markgrafenstraße, which will lead you to the Gendarmenmarkt, one of

the most beautiful squares in Berlin.

Checkpoint #15 – GendarmenmarktThe square was laid out from 1688 to the plans of J.A. Nering and was originally

known as Linden Markt, then Friedrichstädtischer Markt or Neuer Markt. The name

Gendarmenmarkt arose as a cuirassier regiment “gens d’arms”, complete with sentry

boxes and stables, used the square from 1936-82. The square was badly damaged in

the Second World War, which, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the

Akademie der Wissenschaften (Prussian Academy of the Sciences), was renamed

“Platz der Akademie”. Its previous name was restored in 1991. On one side stands the

Konzerthaus (Concert Hall), a new building designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel to

replace the National Theater built from 1800-02 by Karl Gotthard Langhans, which was

burnt to the ground in 1817. (continued on next page)

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 23


Checkpoint #15 – Gendarmenmarkt (cont.)(Cont.) Following its destruction in the Second World War, the building was initially only

made safe, with the systematic restoration of the original design only beginning in

1979. Since its reopening in 1984 it has served not as a theatre, but as a concert hall.

On the two other sides stand the German Cathedral, built from 1701-08, by Giovanni

Simonetti to plans to M. Grünberg (Carl von Gontard extended the building with the

addition of the domed tower from 1780-85), and French Cathedral, built from 1701-05

as a church for Berlin’s Huguenot community, with the imposing tower added from

1780-85, respectively, the whole forming a harmonious architectural balance.

52°30'49.1"N 13°23'33.9"E – Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin

Continue south on Markgrafenstraße and make a right on Zimmerstraße to got to our

next checkpoint.

Checkpoint #16 – Checkpoint CharlieAt the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße is the site of the most famous

border crossing, Checkpoint Charlie, which was restricted to Allied personnel and

non-German citizens. Numerous legends and agent stories are told about Checkpoint

Charlie. The former border crossing point between East and West Berlin was the place

where Soviet and American tanks stood face to face, after the construction of the Wall

in 1961, is now a museum which tells the history of the Wall.

52°30'27.2"N 13°23'25.3"E – Friedrichstraße 43-45, 10117 Berlin

After a visit through the Museum, head west on Zimmerstraße and right going up

Wilhelmstraße. Then another left on Hannah-Arendt-straße which will lead you to the

Holocaust Memorial.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL24


Checkpoint #17 – Holocaust MemorialThe Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe also known as the Holocaust Memorial,

is a memorial in Berlin to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. It consists of a 4.7-acre

site covered with 2,711 concrete slabs or "stelae", arranged in a grid pattern on a

sloping field. They are organized in rows, 54 of them going north–south, and 87

heading east–west at right angles but set slightly askew. The stelae are designed to

produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere, and the whole sculpture aims to represent

a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason. An attached

underground "Place of Information" holds the names of approximately 3 million Jewish

Holocaust victims, obtained from the Israeli museum Yad Vashem. Building began on

April 1, 2003, and was finished on December 15, 2004. It was inaugurated on May 10,

2005, sixty years after the end of World War II.

52°30'50.6"N 13°22'47.0"E – Cora-Berliner-Straße 1, 10117 Berlin

Head one block north opt the next checkpoint.

Checkpoint #18 – Brandenberger TorThe Brandenburger Tor, Berlin's greatest landmark, and Berlin's only remaining city

gate, is the true symbol of the city. Because it was situated in the no man's land just

behind the Wall, it also became symbolic of the division of the city. After the Fall of the

Wall, the Gate was reopened on December 22, 1989. On the east side of the Gate lays

Pariser Platz. As part of the reconstruction of Pariser Platz, new buildings have been

added which are based on their historic forebears. Pariser Platz forms the link between

the Brandenburg Gate and the magnificent Unter den Linden Boulevard. It was

originally a parade ground before a square was built at the end of Unter den Linden

during the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm I. Noble villas, embassies and the luxurious Hotel

Adlon arose around the square. The square was destroyed in the Second World War.

Since the Fall of the Wall, new buildings by renowned international architects have

been and are being built. (continued on next page)

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 25


Checkpoint #18 – Brandenberger Tor (cont.)(cont.) The Liebermann House and the Summer House, newly constructed to the left

and right of the Brandenburg Gate, were conceived as a pair, and their design is based

on the previous buildings created by Stüler. The Dresdner Bank building follows the

architectural conventions of Pariser Platz closely, without degenerating into historicism.

52°30'49.1"N 13°23'33.9"E – Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin

Continue north on Ebertstraße to the final checkpoint.

End Checkpoint #19 – ReichstagThis walk ends at the Reichstag, Berlin’s new seat of government. The Reichstag was

constructed from 1884–94 by Paul Wallot, since a representative building was needed

to house the parliament of the newly-founded German state. The inscription "Dem

Deutschen Volke" ("To the German people") was only added in 1916 during the First

World War, because Wilhelm II had previously been against it. From 1994–99 the

Reichstag was reconstructed and extended by the Architect Sir Norman Forster, taking

into consideration both the immense historical implications and its function as a

modern working parliament, and adding an accessible dome. Before the renovation

work began in 1994, the building became the stage for one of the most spectacular art

events in Europe: it was wrapped by Christo and Jeanne Claude. The glass dome,

which was at first the subject of great controversy, has now become one of the newest

landmarks in the city. Since 1999 the Reichstag building has once again been the seat

of the German Bundestag. The parliamentary building with its roof garden and dome is

open to the general public and offers an impressive view out over the Tiergarten,

Berlin's green heart, and the eastern inner city. The chance of standing on the heads

of our politicians is one that shouldn't be missed (though do allow for long queues

waiting to go inside the dome).

52°31'07.0"N 13°22'28.7"E – Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin

You have now completed the Berlin Historical Trail!

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL26

4

2

3

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 27

N

3

4

7

8

8

Outer Hike

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL28

3

4

1

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL

2

29

N

Inner Hike – West

6

5

6

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL30

10

7

12

19

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL

Inner Hike – East

31

N

9

16

17

11

13

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL32

U-Bahn Route Map Between Inner Hike East and West

N

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 33

Historic Trail Quiz

1. When was the Wansee Conference held? _______________

2. Who built the Sacrower Heilandskirche? _______________

3. How many prisoner exchanges happened on the

Glienicker Bridge and in what years? _______________

4. What did President Kennedy say in his famous

speech in Berlin? _______________

5. When did the Berlin Airlift occur and how many

different planes participated? _______________

6. When did the Templehof Airport finally close? _______________

7. Who was in charge of building the Berliner Dom? _______________

8. How high is the viewing platform on the Fernsehturm? _______________

9. What is the nickname of the Berliner Rathaus? _______________

10. What is the most important Catholic Church in Berlin? _______________

11. Who could cross the border at Checkpoint Charlie? _______________

12. How many concrete slabs are in the Holocaust Memorial? _______________

13. When did the Brandenburg Tor reopen? _______________

14. What part of the German government works in the Reichstag? _______________

15. What Boy Scout Troop created the Berlin Historic Trail? _______________

Answers on page 35

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL34

BSA Requirements

Completion of the Berlin Historic Trails may complete

the following Requirements:

Cub Scouts:Tiger:

My Tiger Jungle Req 1

Tigers in the Wild Req 1, 2, 4

Tiger Tales Req 7

Wolf:

Paws on the Path Req 1-5

Finding Your Way Req 4

Bear:

Fur, Feathers, and Ferns Req 1

Paws for Action Req 2B

Webelos:

Webelos Walkabout Req 1-6

Boy Scouts:Tenderfoot: Req 4d, 5a, 5b, 5c

Second Class: Req 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 6c

First Class: Req 4a, 4b

*Note: Requirements for the Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation,

Hiking, Orienteering, and American Heritage Merit Badges and the Cub Scout Outdoor

Activity Award can be earned by completing this hike and learning about sites found on

this hike.

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL 35

Notes

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Quiz Answers: 1) 20 Jan 1942, 2)Friedrich Wilhelm IV, 3) 3 – 1962, 1985, 1986, 4)”Ich bin ein

Berliner!”, 5) 1948-49, 1383 different airplanes, 6) 2008, 7) Julius Raschdorff, 8) 203 meters, 9) Rotes

Rathaus, 10) St Hedwig’s Cathedral, 11) Allied personnel and non-German citizens, 12) 2,711 slabs,

13) 22 Dec 1989, 14) The Bundestag, 15) Troop 152

BERLIN, GERMANY

HISTORIC TRAIL

This Historic Trail was put together by Troop

152, Berlin, Germany in the 1980s and was

updated by the troop during the 1990s to the

current walk.

Additional Historic Trails in the Transatlantic Council area

can be found at http://tac-bsa.org/program/historic-trails/

or by scanning the QR Code below.

Updated 02 January 2018

http://tac-bsa.org/program/historic-trails/

Berlin, Germany HISTORIC TRAIL -...

Documents

Transcript of Berlin, Germany HISTORIC TRAIL -...